Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail the steps taken by him to secure the jobs under threat with the issuing of protective redundancy notices by the operator of Tara mines. [1525/13]

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will meet with the workers, trade unions and owners of Tara Mines to safeguard employment at the site. [1526/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together.

I understand that approximately 700 workers at Tara Mine were recently put on protective notice. Boliden, the Swedish company that operates the mines, is seeking to reduce its overall production costs, including personnel costs, through reduced overtime levels and premiums, and a further reduction split between bonuses and basic rates.

Both parties met under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission on 9 January last. Arising from that meeting, the parties agreed to meaningfully engage in discussions under the auspices of the LRC during the remainder of January. The company has agreed to refrain from taking any further action whilst these discussions take place.

I welcome the agreement of the parties to engage in these talks. I would encourage the parties to partake constructively and in good faith in this process. The principle of good faith implies that both sides make every effort to reach an agreement and endeavour, through genuine and constructive negotiations, to resolve their differences.